Where have all the small phones gone?

[mj0]

Surely I can't be the only one bothered by the fact that our phones seem to be growing ever larger and larger. For a long time Apple has remained the only company still offering a 4" flagship phone but as we all know they went all in with the iPhone 6 and 6+. Nowadays, some OEMs have started referring to 4.6" devices as being compact or mini, which makes me cringe and laugh simultaneously every time I see it. Sure, 4" smartphones still are available here and there, but they're either massively outdated (and have been for years) or contain cheap, slow, and bad quality hardware with little to no internal memory, such as the really bad display on the 4GB Lumia 530 or the terrible camera without LED flash on the 4GB/8GB ASUS ZenFone 4. Infact, the ZenFone 4 is the only 4" smartphone I was able to find that runs Android 5.0 and to my knowledge there isn't a single 4" smartphone running Android 5.1 as we speak (not talking about rooted/modded/flashed phones). My point is: yes, 4" devices are still available, but they're far from desirable or sometimes even usable. They're cheap low-end phones for less than US $100 unlocked, and they sure as hell let you know it.

I bet within the next two years some OEM is going to start marketing 5" phones as the new micro/nano/whatever, while flagships will grow from 5.5" to 6" and beyond, and I'm trying to figure out why these things keep growing larger and larger. I've made peace with the fact that I'm a dinosaur destined for extinction when it comes to screen size since most users clearly seem to be craving for ever larger displays, but why? Has the usage pattern moved so far away from mobile phone into the media consumption space that these devices are rarely ever used as communication devices for human interaction anymore but rather gaming devices that can also be used as cameras and for watching movies? Do people simply not care that a modern smartphone doesn't really fit in your pants' pockets anymore? Or that it feels like a brick when you take it to the gym or out running?

I know I'm part of a (silent/vocal) minority here, and I'm just trying to understand the majority because it's obvious to me that large screens must have some sort of benefit to them, otherwise people wouldn't be going bananas for them. It's just that I can't see an advantage in having a 5" or 6" phone, literally none whatsoever. Maybe somebody here will be able to shed some light on this.

 

[Clocks]

I'm tired of hearing "modern phones don't fit in your pants pocket". Unless you're 10 years old you can likely squeeze (very tightly) a freakin' nexus 7 into your pants pocket although it will stick out the top. I am not familiar with a pair of men's pants that wouldn't accommodate a "HUGE" note/iphone 6+/nexus 6. My small wife doesn't struggle with her note 4 and she doesn't carry a purse.

If you want to complain that your can't one-handed type on a nexus 6 sure...that's a legit point. But to say that phones are so big they literally dont fit in pockets is ridiculous.

As for the benefits; its easier and more comfortable to read, easier to browse the web and tap on various links, you can tap on the keyboard without hitting three letters at once, watching videos is a better experience.

What's the benefit of a small phone? It's 0.5" narrower?

 

[PapaGary]

Sure it will fit but in the case of my wife she refuses to use a phone that will look like a colostomy bag in a front pocket and a growth on her bum in a hip pocket. She thinks even my first gen Moto X (4.7" screen) is too large. She is a retired IT Senior Systems Analyst who feels her phone is a communication tool and not a fashion accessory and will not carry it around in her hand like a teenager. I think a person of small stature would definitely agree with you mj0.

iPhone6: Is big really better? (Opinion cartoon) - CNN.com

 

[Clocks]

I think that's what it really boils down to. All of these threads can be re-titled in the future "I'll feel like a dork when using the Note 5".

And then maybe we can address the real issue - some weird deep-seated insecurity.

 

[mj0]

I see. Your opinion is obviously that larger is better, therefore everybody else must be wrong and also suffering from some weird deep-seated insecurity

Let me rephrase that pocket issue. Yes, it does fit. Men's pockets are usually large enough that a normal sized person can easily fit a 6+ or a Note 5 into their front pockets. Standing, that is, because as soon as one attemts to sit down the phone pokes into your hip bones or is jammed tightly between your pants and your thigh (causing noticeable discomfort at least for me). I've had a 4.5" and a 5" phone for a while and got rid of both again because I was unable to sit down for longer than a few minutes with the phone in my pocket no matter what pants I was wearing (jeans, suit, sweats, you name it). Basically, anytime I sat down I had to take it out.

And what's the benefit of a large phone? It's 0.5" wider? Don't get me wrong - I'm not trying to start a flamewar pro and contra big screens here. I'm trying to understand the benefits because while I see none I have accepted the fact that sooner or later I will have to get a larger phone.

 

[PapaGary]

I think that's what it really boils down to. All of these threads can be re-titled in the future "I'll feel like a dork when using the Note 5".

Works for me.

To paraphrase Mae West:

"Is that a phone in your pocket or are you just happy to see me"

 

[Clocks]

Thank you mj0, that definitely makes sense and I've never heard anyone describe it that way. While I'll agree its harder to pull a nexus 6 out of my pocket than a 2013 moto x when I'm in the car, I have not yet experienced pain or discomfort.

Typing, media consumption, web browsing. I think those are all easier on a 5.2"+ device. It makes quite a difference in my personal experience and allows me to keep my laptop designated to work and few other things. I hit my limit with the nexus 6. I found it manageable but just a tad too wide to ever be 100% comfortable with it. I doubt we will see the average smart phone screen size rise above 6" ever.

My recommendation is to give it a try. A note 4 can be bought off contract on swappa for well under $400 (and will have the same resale value in 3 weeks if you hate it). See what all the buzz is about for a few weeks and then go back to picking over the scraps the phone manufacturers toss at the <5" crowd

 

[jpr196]

I'm tired of hearing "modern phones don't fit in your pants pocket". Unless you're 10 years old you can likely squeeze (very tightly) a freakin' nexus 7 into your pants pocket although it will stick out the top. I am not familiar with a pair of men's pants that wouldn't accommodate a "HUGE" note/iphone 6+/nexus 6. My small wife doesn't struggle with her note 4 and she doesn't carry a purse.

If you want to complain that your can't one-handed type on a nexus 6 sure...that's a legit point. But to say that phones are so big they literally dont fit in pockets is ridiculous.

As for the benefits; its easier and more comfortable to read, easier to browse the web and tap on various links, you can tap on the keyboard without hitting three letters at once, watching videos is a better experience.

What's the benefit of a small phone? It's 0.5" narrower?

It's not about fitting in the pockets for me per se but I am an active person (running, hiking, biking). I use my phone for these activities and the ability for it to fit comfortably and be useable one-handed (ie running) is important to me. However, I've conceded the fact that flagship level phones will not be made under 5 inches any time soon.

 

[LeoRex]

The minute network speeds allowed for streaming high definition video, that doomed small screens. Visuals took precedent. So there really isn't a market for high end phones with small displays.

The best you'll get, other than a could of rare exceptions, is Moto E level phones.

 

[mj0]

I see. What you're saying is that media consumption has become the most important selling point and thus feature of smartphones. Do people really use it to watch/stream videos when out and about that often? I'm not saying that I doubt this, it's just that I haven't witnessed anyone actually watch a movie (or any other sort of video for that matter) on a smartphone for an extended period of time. It would make perfect sense from that point of view, though.

Clocks: I already did give it a try and replaced my 4" smartphone with a 4.5" and then a 5" smartphone for three months each. I gave up eventually for various reasons, the most important being that even after six months I couldn't get used to the size and both phones were simply too large for me to comfortably use one-handed or to keep in my pocket when sitting down while at the same time the additional screen estate didn't offer any benefits whatsoever.

 

[syscrh]

Actually there is a market for small flagships (at least here in Europe) and that's why the Sony Xperia Z Compact series exists.
4.6" display, but the device itself is not larger than 4" phones from 2011/2012.

As of me, I own a S5 Mini and a LG G2 and I see no advantage in the larger display of the G2. I do actually prefer the more comfortable to hold and carry around S5 Mini.
6" displays are for people who forgot what a laptop has been used previously. I couldn't even imagine to browse the web on a phone for more than five minutes. For me not even a tablet (Asus Nexus 7 (2012)) could replace my laptop (ThinkPad X230).

 

[Jerry Hildenbrand]

I'm tired of hearing "modern phones don't fit in your pants pocket". Unless you're 10 years old you can likely squeeze (very tightly) a freakin' nexus 7 into your pants pocket although it will stick out the top. I am not familiar with a pair of men's pants that wouldn't accommodate a "HUGE" note/iphone 6+/nexus 6. My small wife doesn't struggle with her note 4 and she doesn't carry a purse.

If you want to complain that your can't one-handed type on a nexus 6 sure...that's a legit point. But to say that phones are so big they literally dont fit in pockets is ridiculous.

As for the benefits; its easier and more comfortable to read, easier to browse the web and tap on various links, you can tap on the keyboard without hitting three letters at once, watching videos is a better experience.

What's the benefit of a small phone? It's 0.5" narrower?

I can one hand type on my Nexus 6.
My Nexus 6 does not fit in my shirt pocket.

Apparently, I am also ridiculous. I'm OK with that.

 

[mrsmumbles]

I prefer smaller phones too. I'm reading right now on a 5.5 inch screen and while it may be easier on my eyes, it's harder on my hand. Just not comfortable for me unfortunately. I'm glad for the Xperia compact line. I am thinking of buying a 2015 Moto G.

 

[Golfdriver97]

I understand people want bigger phones. There is obviously a market for that; Samsung proved it. After using the G4 and Zenfone 2 for nearly 3 months, I have found I really do not care for the larger (5.5"+) screen sizes. I just don't understand why both markets can't be catered to. I heard about the Sony Z5 Compact, and I was thrilled....till I saw the European price point. I still may consider getting that device, but a steep price tag like that is something to consider.

 

[Clocks]

I can one hand type on my Nexus 6.
My Nexus 6 does not fit in my shirt pocket.

Apparently, I am also ridiculous. I'm OK with that.

You are the only person I've heard of who puts a phone in their shirt pocket. Although if my grandpa had a smart phone I bet that's where he would put it

I remember you mentioning that on a podcast so I guess I should have been specific to pants. I doubt your pant pockets are smaller than my wife's though.

 

[Morty2264]

Since I watch Netflix on my device, for my own sanity, I prefer a phone of at least five inches. I will most likely get an LG G3 after I am finished with my Nexus 5, but the G3 (5.5 inches) is the absolute biggest I will go. Some phones of six inches, etc, are too big for my hands and are too big in general. You'll need a suitcase for your phone instead of a pocket!

 

[Suzamax]

I switched from 3.8 inches to 5.5, and I liked the change, my previous phone got small and unusable for me, and the current one fits perfectly. Nowadays, the only chance to get a usable phone about 4" is to get an iPhone or a Lumia device

 

[mj0]

Browsing through the main news site here I stumbled upon a review titled "Tiny Idol" and was thrilled for about a quarter of a second. That is until I realized that the so-called "tiny" Idol 3 is a 4.7" phone.
How on earth can 4.7 friggin' inch be considered tiny??? That's like saying the Ford F-150 is tiny. Sure, it's huge overall but there's much bigger trucks around, thus this must obviously be a tiny car. This is getting ridiculous...

Yesterday I've had the chance to play around with a friend's brand-new 5" Moto G (2nd gen). He's very happy with the size but I almost dropped it twice during a few minutes of playtime because I somehow could not get a grip on that thing even though he had a rubber case around it (went naked as well but didn't make a difference). When I started moving my thumb around the phone inadvertently started slipping out of my hand, which meant I had to grip it uncomfortably tight, which caused my hand to cramp after a few seconds, which made me loosen the grip, which caused the phone to start slipping again.

To quote the late Steve Jobs: Most likely I'm "holding it wrong". How on earth do you hold a 5" (or larger) phone while using it one-handed? The only way for me to safely hold any smartphone is to have my pinky underneath the phone to keep it from rapidly giving in to gravity and accelerating towards the pavement. Kinda like this:



However, with that kind of grip my thumb can only reach about halfway up the screen. Is there a trick?

 

[codeda]

Browsing through the main news site here I stumbled upon a review titled "Tiny Idol" and was thrilled for about a quarter of a second. That is until I realized that the so-called "tiny" Idol 3 is a 4.7" phone.
How on earth can 4.7 friggin' inch be considered tiny??? That's like saying the Ford F-150 is tiny. Sure, it's huge overall but there's much bigger trucks around, thus this must obviously be a tiny car. This is getting ridiculous...

Yesterday I've had the chance to play around with a friend's brand-new 5" Moto G (2nd gen). He's very happy with the size but I almost dropped it twice during a few minutes of playtime because I somehow could not get a grip on that thing even though he had a rubber case around it (went naked as well but didn't make a difference). When I started moving my thumb around the phone inadvertently started slipping out of my hand, which meant I had to grip it uncomfortably tight, which caused my hand to cramp after a few seconds, which made me loosen the grip, which caused the phone to start slipping again.

To quote the late Steve Jobs: Most likely I'm "holding it wrong". How on earth do you hold a 5" (or larger) phone while using it one-handed? The only way for me to safely hold any smartphone is to have my pinky underneath the phone to keep it from rapidly giving in to gravity and accelerating towards the pavement. Kinda like this:

View attachment 195549

However, with that kind of grip my thumb can only reach about halfway up the screen. Is there a trick?

I think your hand just adjusts. I could type one handed on my note and my galaxy s6 and my lg G3. All different sizes. And I'm a 5 foot tall woman. You just adapt and make it work. I haven't dropped a phone in a long time.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[mj0]

My hand seems to be less flexible than yours

As I've said before: I have tried both a 4.5" and 5" smartphone for three months each and was not able to adapt and make it work. It felt unnatural and weird using them one-handed and my hand started to hurt after a while even after these six months.